Gwen and Art arent in love: Arc. I enjoyed the relationship layout of Gwen and Gabriel, early. Nice brother and sister dynamics.

The introduction’s to Lady leclair was so good as well as Gwen’s reaction.

I liked it. I loved the layout of the book.

The characters main Gwen was hard for me to like at times. There was part where I did like here and she just let it all away.

I love a romance and I did expect the ending. I loved the plot and writing style.

I do feel like some parts were dragged out. I finished the book. It was a good read.

My rating is 3.75

I enjoyed this overall, and I think anyone who enjoyed A Knight’s Tale (movie) but wished it was queer will probably love Gwen & Art Are Not In Love.

I personally didn’t care much for Gwen, I think she spends WAY too much time looking down on everyone (especially other girls and women), and I didn’t much like Art in the beginning either (he spends a lot of the book in an inconsistent drunken state; sometimes he’s drunk Camelot dry and can still climb walls and give sage advice, and other times he has one drink and can no longer stand?). Gwen’s brother Gabriel honestly kind of bored me.

Art grew on me over the course of the book, I think maybe because he’s the only main character with character development. His motivations make sense, and even when he made decisions that had me groaning in despair, they felt realistic and in character. (I think another reason his drinking bothered me, is that as the only man (boy) of Color (his mother was Iranian) it felt awkward and while I understand why he was drinking, I wish the author had considered a different vice, cause making your only male character of Color a drunk feels racist to me.)

I liked all the secondary and tertiary characters a LOT more than the three main characters (I know Bridget should probably be considered a main character, as she’s a love interest and on the cover of the book, it we don’t actually see her very much?)

Art’s friend/servant/bodyguard who’s name I can’t remember right now was easily my favorite character. He has a romance with Gwen’s lady in waiting Agnes, who I also really liked. There are two commoners who work in the castle who are friends with Bridget that i wish we’d seen more of, as they seemed interesting (likely why Gwen avoids them, as she’d have to rethink her stance on all women being useless giggling gossip).

Then there’s Bridget, who is a lady knight and Gwen’s love interest. She deserves better. We discover that her family came to england two generations ago from what I think is medieval Thailand, and as her parents lee she learns how to fight and decides she wants to be a knight and faces all sorts of misogyny that Gwen decides, having known her all of a day, to tell her how to fight back against, ignoring that her own mother the queen of england is one of Bridget’s biggest haters. Listen, I liked that the author didn’t make Bridget a meek Asian woman stereotype, or go the other way in making her an unbeatable martial artist. Bridget feels like she could have been a real person, which is why I was disappointed at how little we see her. She literally just shows up when it’s convenient to the story, and despite being the best character in the book is somehow relegated to being a prop. If her part had been cut, nothing in the book would have changed. Which is a shame because I did really like her.

The ending was abrupt, and it didn’t really (for me) fit with the vibe of the first 80% of the book. Is there foreshadowing to some of the events at the end? Yes. But it was still a shock to go from attempted medieval romcom to dramatic historical where prominent characters are permanently disabled and another important character, not a Bad Guy, is killed off. It was jarring, especially in tone.

Despite all the things I didn’t like about it, it did make me laugh out loud quite a bit, which I needed. It was largely fun, and i did enjoy it while I was reading it.

Such a cute read! I loved the character and the story, but if there’s one thing that threw me off, it was the world building. The world building was a big confusing as I think it was a mix of real life history and fantasy, and I overall wasn’t very interested in the politics in the book. I really liked the relationships in this book though; these are the kinds of characters you find yourself rooting for.

After reading and enjoying this author’s two adult novels, I was really excited to read Lex Croucher’s young adult debut! I found it in much the same vein of humor and really enjoyed it. With great heart and laugh-out-loud moments, Gwen and Art Are Not in Love defies tradition for the sake of love and happiness.

Gwendoline and Arthur have been betrothed since birth — the only issue is that they’ve despised each other for their entire lives. This summer, their parents have decided it’s finally time for their marriage, so the two of them are forced to spend time with each other this summer. In the first day of Art’s arrival at court, Gwen accidentally sees him kissing another boy and in retaliation, he steals her diary only to find out that she’s been crushing on Bridget, the only female knight in the realm. Add in Art getting to know Gabriel, Gwen’s older brother and crown prince, and this summer is a recipe for disaster — or maybe finally a time for change in the kingdom.

I really loved our cast of characters and their personal journeys! Arthur was such a chaotic character, and I loved his humor. He’s so used to shirking his responsibilities that he can’t understand why Gwen and Gabriel won’t at least try to be happy outside of their duties. He helps them realize that they don’t have to live a life of misery simply because of the stations they were born to, and in turn comes to realize that sometimes responsibility isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Gwen is heavily introverted and hates disruptions to her schedule; she can’t comprehend Arthur’s general vibe of chaos, but she also comes to realize that she doesn’t have to be completely unhappy in her life like she is now. She takes Arthur’s (technically unasked for) advice and pursues Bridget, while also realizing that her preconceived notions of people are sometimes unfair.

Gwen and her brother Gabriel share everything with together except for the fact that both of them have feelings for someone they “shouldn’t,” according to tradition. I enjoyed reading about both of their journeys to realize that they shouldn’t have to hide who they are. Arthur helps both of them come to terms with this, even more so with Gabriel as the two of them develop feelings for each other.

I also really liked Bridget’s character! As the only female knight in the kingdom, she’s ridiculed and mocked everywhere she goes. However, she sticks with it because she likes being a knight and isn’t afraid to live as she wants. It was nice to see how her confidence rubs off on Gwen over time.

Gwen and Art Are Not in Love was a fun romp that also had poignant character arcs. I had so much fun with these characters and couldn’t stop laughing while reading. If you’re intrigued by a medieval rom-com and/or in the mood for a historical YA romance with a modern twist, I definitely think you should pick up Gwen and Art Are Not in Love!

I loved this book! Gwen and Arthur have been betrothed to each other since Gwen's birth. The only issue is that the two can't stand each other. However, as Gwen's 18th birthday is approaching the pair's respective parents decide the two must spend the summer together at Gwen's family's castle in hopes they can begin to get along. But Gwen has her eye on the kingdom's only female knight Lady Bridget, and Arthur begins to develop feelings to Gwen's older brother Gabriel. Realizing they are better as allies than enemies, Arthur and Gwen develop a cautious pact to cover for each other.

I adore the characters and all of their separate story arcs, but also I love when they all come together in both good times and bad. There's love, hate, drama, longing, hurt/comfort--there's something for everyone!

Firstly, I’d like to say how much I adore this cover! It’s so lovely and I couldn’t stop staring at it while reading the book.

Secondly—this book! I was nervous because this has been an anticipated read of mine but I had no reason to be. I enjoyed the main characters and their relationships. Crouch does such a beautiful job curating these endearing and wonderful characters with seemingly real personalities and ambitions. I absolutely busted out laughing so many times! This book was so fun, witty and honest! I absolutely adored Arthur and his grumpiness and sarcastic comments.

Any who, I AM SO HONORED I GOT THE CHANCE TO READ THIS NOVEL. It hooked me immediately and I love how much we focused on all the side characters as well. I really enjoyed the storyline and wow my heart melted so many times.

I think this one even topped so many other YA queer novels this month, and I can't wait to tell everyone to buy it when it's in stores or be annoyingly persistent about it when I’m at the library.

This was a damn good time. The characters were super lovable, and it was impossible not to root for them all. My only gripe is that this seems to be a standalone, but it definitely reads like a set-up to a longer series (and that’s only a gripe if don’t get a million sequels about this weird little Court scandalizing England I love them so much). Lex Croucher’s writing is funny and warm and feels so cozy and wonderful.

A solid 2.5 and I'm rounding up for stars. I really wanted to like this more because I loved Reputation. This was not a bad book. I think I was coming off the high of another book and couldn't tell if this was YA or not and could never fully get into it. The pacing was a bit choppy at times, especially towards the end. There's a lot of heart and fun in this book and think a lot of people will enjoy it. I just don't think it was for me (which makes me sad bc l'm obsessed with the cover art!)

I liked this read, but it wasn’t my favorite. The concept was new and fresh. The characters were enjoyable, but the witty banter was a bit overkill. Seemed to be trying a bit too hard.

Although it took me a while to get through this book, I overall loved the vibes and the characters. I was already sold on the premise as somehow who loved BBC's Merlin, so I was really excited to see a queer "retelling" of Arthurian legends. My one critique of the book is that it that the action starts happening when the book is about 75% and everything up to that is just character driven, not plot. That being said, I loved the characters and reading about them just existing in Camelot. I of course can't forget how delighted it was to read the gay panic Gwen and Gabriel went through every 2 seconds. Overall this story was such a fun time and I would highly recommend it, especially if you like Merlin!

this book was so cute! The characters were what really made it! I loved all of them and the complemented each other so well! they felt very modern but in a medieval setting, which I think made the book pretty funny but in a very good way. I loved both of the romances, I just wish we would have gotten to see more of them. Overall, this was a great book and I really did love it!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Lex Croucher would like you to know, this is NOT a retelling! Nor is it high fantasy or written in Middle English. It’s just boat-loads of fun. I really enjoyed this one.

“Gwen and Art Are Not In Love” is full of lovable characters, a variation of relationships, and constant humor. I particularly enjoyed Arthur and his never ending wise cracks amidst his emergence of softness that he gained for the royal family. The queer relationships between the royal children and their lovers were not completely unrealistic for the time period and portrayed exceptionally by Croucher. I really appreciated the spotlight being shone equally on a MLM and WLW relationship. This book was just too much fun.

Haven't even finished this book yet and I wanted to write my review already. This book is so delightful!

Blurbs I would write if I was an author:
"Highly captivating from the first page"
"Lovely, funny, scintillating"
"Made me believe in love again"

Seriously one of the most entertaining books I have ever read and I haven't even finished the story yet. I seriously do not want to stop talking about this book.

Will update when finished!!

Update after finishing:
Literally the best book I have read so far this year. This is five stars, first-rate, blue-chip, the holy grail of books. I was so impressed with this book and the author. I am so excited to read more by this author.

The romance was light and fun, but also explored some heavier elements. I am a fan of all the relationships in the book.

This book is super sweet, delightful, but also pulls at your heartstrings.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of this. It was amazing!!!

I liked this one! I'll admit that I was skeptical of it because it looked like an Arthurian retelling translated into a teen romance. After finishing and loving Perilous Times, an Arthurian retelling that is almost the exact opposite, I was wary of the fluff in this one. That skepticism was completely unwarranted because I loved this!

I absolutely loved that we had dual-POV. Although I definitely preferred Arthur's chapters, I enjoyed Gwen's as well. Having both helped endear both characters to me, and kept me engaged in both romances. I do wish we'd had a bit more of Bridget though! She was intriguing, and I felt like a lot of her potential was left untapped.

I am curious to see whether Croucher has anything else planned in this world. The ending, although complete, gave me some theories I'd love to explore. I'm not sure where a future book would go, but I wouldn't say no to it!

I'm really glad I picked this one up because I really enjoyed it! It was a super fun, romantic, and exciting romp through medieval times. I'd recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Witty, irreverent, and actually hilarious, "Gwen & Art Are Not in Love" was a perfect balance of a historical romcom. Every character is instantly lovable and the character dynamics are magnetic. Both Gwen and Arthur are compelling main characters and no matter what they do, I was rooting for their happily ever after. The supporting characters hold their own weight in a well-rounded cast of silly people. Croucher takes a fun twist on the classic Arthurian legend and while I was a bit skeptical at first because the dialogue was very modern and anachronistic, I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience. Everyone should absolutely add this to their bookshelf because it's so fun so cute and so gay.

Review ~

GWEN AND ART ARE NOT IN LOVE BY LEX CROUCHER

Ok um, I am obsessed with everything about this book. I feel so lucky to have gotten to read it early because it is going on my all-time favorites list. A queer medieval rom-com? SAY NO MORE.

Gwendoline, the hot-tempered princess, and Arthur, King Arthur's descendant, and a royal vagabond, have been betrothed since early childhood. The catch? They despise each other and are QUEER.

In fact, Gwen is pining after the kingdom’s only lady knight and Art finds himself begrudgingly attracted to the royal heir. Thus, they make a pact as allies so they can be with whom they actually desire. There ends up being a whole lot more than love in this story and I was on the edge of my seat until the final page.

I laughed out loud multiple times reading this and highlighted so many passages on my kindle that were heartfelt. This is the book every young queer kid needs to read when contemplating coming out and owning their true selves. The world-building is done well without info dumping and I never felt lost.

The cast of characters was *chef's kiss.* Art is the lord of sharp humor, Gwen is the daughter trying to decide where to show her courage, Sidney is a hilarious wingman always trying to save his charge from trouble, Agnes is the lady in waiting who knows every move Gwen is going to make before she does, Gabriel is the king in training who just wants to be a good leader, Bridget outshining every man with her sword techniques. I love them all.

Read if you love:
Arthurian legends
Witty banter
Teenage drama
Royal courts and jousting tournaments
Heartstopper meets a Knights Tale
LGBTQTIA+ coming-out stories
Heartwarming moments
Swan princess enemies to friends vibes
Sword-fighting
Found family

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for the arc, I feel so grateful!

Gwen and Art are officially OUT on Nov 28, 2023.

A absolute joy to read. This is the third book of Lex Croucher’s I’ve read and I can’t wait for there to be more. The story is laugh-out-loud funny and incredibly clever. The characters were relatable and charming. I will be recommending this to everyone.

WHAT A TREAT. This is adorable, sweet, funny, witty, well written. I've never really been into historical settings, but this was really very sweet. I really had a fun time reading it, especially with how well written the dialogue was. I love the characters, and how they're developed.

Fun :)

It’s no secret in my life that I am an absolute sucker for anything Arthurian. When I first saw this novel become available, I quite literally jumped. I was not, however, prepared for it at all.
This novel is a queer mixed-up and turned on its head retelling of King Arthur and his Camelot. Croucher mixes the most popular legend in with the most perfect young adult coming of age queer love story. But on top of finding love in different ways, the author portrays something we don’t often see in novels: friendship. I’ve never been more jealous of Gwen and Art and the friendship they formed over NOT falling in love with each other. I’ve been seeing lots of hype for this book, and now I can officially say it was 100% worth it. I will for sure be placing this book in the hands of anyone I can. It’s definitely the one to watch.

“You should just fall in love with me,” Arthur said, in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I couldn’t love you back, but I might grow fond of you. I am partial to being adored.” - my favorite line & character- i swear.

I adored Arthur, but Gwen was a little annoying throughout- I much preferred Arthur & Gabriel’s dynamic- but Gwen & Arthur’s friendship was quite a good slow burn.

Fantastic side characters, amazing wit, hilariously raw & real humor and emotion. Lots of good and REAL queer thoughts and issues brought to light during this but all under the comfortable blanket of a King Arthur retelling. How lovely, truly.

I do have to admit the first like 25% of the book, it took forever for me to feel interested. However… From about page 100 until the end- I was INCREDIBLY engrossed. It had constant plot twists & interesting things unraveling, and ended with a fantastic burst of emotion and love. It truly was really great, and now is one of my top favorite Queer books of all time.

Arthur is.. Maybe my favorite character of all time. Followed closely behind by Sidney.